Upgrade your tone

Think out of the box - suggestions for upgrading your guitar speaker

It's well known that upgrading your guitar speaker can revolutionise your sound – but with such a wealth of speaker options to choose from, it's difficult to know just which one is right for you.

This page isn't meant to be a hard and fast set of rules, or a complete set of possible combinations; it doesn't cover every playing style, guitar, amp or cabinet type. It's simply a few ideas based on our experience and opinion; to give you a little inspiration in your quest for perfect tone.

If your favourite speaker type or combination isn't shown here, it doesn't mean we don't agree, we probably just haven't tried it yet! And if you have a few suggestions of your own, why not tell us, or better still show us on the Celestion Facebook page.

NOTE: When loading new speakers, always make sure that their total combined power handling capability is equal to or greater than the power output of the amplifier. Click here for more information on power handling.

My First Celestion

Congratulations on taking your first step towards tonal nirvana! Sometimes choosing a new guitar speaker to upgrade your tone can be confusing and even daunting, but it needn't be...Here are a few suggestions for your first step into the world of Celestion. Try these options to begin with, if they're not your style, there are plenty more to choose from:

Vintage Tone

In the 1960s, as players demanded greater amplification for increasingly louder and more raucous performances, amp builders turned to Celestion to provide reliable speakers that could handle the extra punishment and provide a sound that suited the new musical styles of the time. Then, we were simply making the best speakers we possibly could. Listening back now, we recognise that the sounds these speakers created were special. That's why we call it Vintage Tone.

Celestion Blue: The original guitar speaker - warm, mellow, with a bell like chime

4 x 12

4x12 cabinets were originally invented in the 1960s, wired up to a high power head amplifier so the guitar could be heard over a thousand screaming fans (this was before the advent of decent PA). These days, the 4x12 is synonymous with raw rock and metal power. Here are a few suggestions for loading yours:

Boutique

An amplifier that is built from the highest specification parts, and designed and hand-crafted for the most discerning players demands a loudspeaker capable of expressing the soundscape that the builder intended. More than that, it has to help bring to life the tone that you are seeking. All manner of tonal possibilities are available from Celestion, here is a selection:

Max Headroom

Although many of Celestion's guitar speaker range are well known for their complex, musical break-up and distortion characteristics, sometimes you want to hold back on the growl until it's really needed. For players who need tons of clean tone, or just want to play fast and loud and still hear every single detail:

More Power

The evolution of amplification has long been a quest for more power. However, connect up a vintage speaker built in the early 60s with a modern amp designed to push out a lot of power, and damage is never more than a power chord away. The following speakers were built with high power amplifiers in mind, while continuing to channel the legendary Celestion sound.

Mixing It Up

A very modern approach is combining speakers with different characteristics to get your own special tonal cocktail. Here at Celestion we wholeheartedly approve of this experimental behaviour and humbly suggest a few combinations of our own.

Alnico

Back in the late 50s, Celestion modified a well established radio speaker (the G12) to produce the first purpose-built guitar speaker. It used an Alnico magnet and produced a tone that was characterised by a dampened attack, bell like chime and a tendency to compress when driven hard. In its trademark Blue livery, this speaker became part of the sound of the Beatles, and became a firm favourite with legends throughout the years. Hear it on recordings by Queen, U2 and The Foo Fighters.

Celestion Blue: The original guitar speaker: warm, mellow, with a bell like chime

Celestion Gold: Higher power handling, with a more rounded bass and softer highs

G10 Gold: Mellow Alnico character, blended with the speed and response of a 10"

Celestion Cream: Brings Alnico class to all kinds of amps from 1-watt to 90-watts.

The Power of Ten

Good sounding 10" speakers can deliver a fast, punchy sound at wider listening angles and with reduced ‘boom' on small stages. They can offer increased portability, reduced cost and the ability to push your amp into overdrive at reasonable levels without having drumsticks aimed at the back of your head.

G10 Gold: Everything you need from an alnico speaker in a 10" package, Lush chime, creamy mid-range and a rich low-end

G10N-40: Well balanced and versatile modern British tone, with sweet and clear upper mids and an articulate top-end

Ten 30: Rich and expressive, the Ten 30 combines warm lows with a vocal mid-range and an articulate top end. The clean sound is open and revealing; push hard and you're rewarded with full-blooded Celestion grind.